Track switch



l. PAIGE.

TRACK SWITCH.

APPLICATxoN FILED DEc.24,1921.

Batented July 25, 1922.

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.JAsoNrAIGn or Evansrori, L'LINoIs.

rasen SWITCH.

vSpeccaton of Letters Patent. Pgtgutgd July 25, 1922 Application inea December ai, 192i. serial No. $24,572.

.To @ZZ @7n/im it may concer/'n v v t'lnownthat I, JASON PAIGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston,

uin fthe-mamy 'or Coeli: and State or illinois,

.have inventedfcertain new fand useful Improvements in'TraclrSwitchesof which the following `is a specification My` invention relates to track switchesand `more specifically to anfi'rnp'roved tr'aclr switch having heating means 'for preventing the formation in cold'weatlier of ice and snow .about the LAmovable switehlpoiiits.

, An object of my invention is to provide vsuch a switch having heating vmeans vincoring the switch `.points Vand adapted to fprevent the formation of ice about the :portions of the switch points supported `on the plates and .also aboutthe portions between the ties.

lnl winter weather a small amountoffsnow or ice about the points of a trackI switch mayentirely.. prevent the voperation of the switch at the proper time either by filling in between the points and the rails or by freezing the movable parts solidly to the sup porting structure. In consequence, track switches of ordinary construction frequently must be cleaned of snow and ice during freezing weather and following snow storms. The thawing of such ice accumulations by burning oil about the switch partsN as has lbeen customary, is expensive and is liable to damage the switch structure so that possible derailment of passing trains may result.

My construction of an electrically heated slide plate, when used in a track switch, efficiently prevents the formation of ice about the movable switch points supported by the slide plate. I have found in connection with their use in changing weather conditions that water accumulating in the spaces between the ties and removed from the slide plates of conventional shape may freeze and obstruct the operation of the switch points. To prevent that occurrence, I have constructed an electrically heated slide plate having a lateral wing extending between the ties so that inthe lowest temperature the entire length of. the switch points willbe free of ice and operable at all times.

ln Ythe r`accoinpan'ying f drawings have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, but is to'be understood lthat in the 'interpretation of the appended claims they are'not to be limited to the 'pr'ecise-"c'onstruction or arrangement set forth, except as lmaybe necessitatedl by theistate ofthe 'prior art. c A Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary plan 'view rof a railroad switch indicating an application of my'invention thereto. ig. "2 is airenlarged vrew'of one `of the slide plates formedwith a lateral wing. 3 is a perspectiveview of thels'hde plate showing thedep'ressed'sec-v tion of the wing portion. lFig. 4: 1is 'a detail section showingtheelectrical conductor and li'eatingelement embedded in the structure ofthe slide pla'te. l y

For vpurposes of illustration I have shown in Fig, l one side of an. ordinary track` switch comprising a fixed rail 10 'and va movable rail comprising swift-ch pointll, both laid upon and supportedby suitable ties i2.

Slide plates 18. attacliedlto the ties beneath 'the' rails by "suitable jspikes or bolts varf-provide bearing surfaces 'for the movable switch Each of the slide plates 13 are provided with lateral wings l5 extending longitudinally of the rails and `bridging the space between the supporting ties. To assure noninterference with the movement of the switch point, the section of the wing l5 extending between the ties is depressed a substantial space from the under side of the movable rail. as illustrated at 16 in Fig. 3.

The electrical heating means provided in each of the slide plates 13 comprises a resistance element 17 embedded directly in the struct-ure of the slide plates and being arranged in loop formation through the body portion and the wing portion of the plate. The terminals 1S' extend through one side of the plate for connection in an electric circuit. The resistance element 17 is surrounded by a sleeve of insulating material 19 which in turn is enclosed in a metallic sheath Q0 preferably made of some ductile alloy vadapted to permit the drawing of the assembled heating element .to the desired cross-section suitable for installation inthe plates.

In manufacturing the slide plates the heating element 17, being arranged in looped formation as illustrated in Fig. 2, is laid a mold and the slide plate then cast by tilling the mold with molten metal which in solidifying forms a practically integral structure with the outer metallic sheath 2O of the heating element- It will be seen that a slide plate formed in this manner effectively and permanently protects the heating element, and that no shocks tothe plate, short of that sufficient to fracture the plate, is liable to damage the heating means employed.

Suitable lead wires 2l may conduct electrical energy to the heating element-s by conventionally arranged connections from any desired source of power, and obviously the supply may be controlled from any con venient control station.

Preferably a layer of asbestos 22, or the like is `placed between each of the slide plates and thev tie upon which it is secured. This prevents excessive absorption of heat by the ties when they are constructed of meta] or cement, and protects wooden ties from burning. Suitable drainage means for disposing of meltedsnow or ice should be provided in the construction of the substructure of the track in proximity to the heating mation of ice about those sections of the movable switch points extending between the slide plates.

I claim as my invention:

l. A track switch supported on spaced ties and having, in combination, a xed rail, a movable rail forming a switch point, slide plates on the ties providing bearing surfaces for said rails, said plates being provided with laterally extending Wings: underlying the portions of said rails between the spaced ties, and electrical means for heating said slide plates and lateral wings.

2. In a track switch having a fixed rail and a movable rail, a plurality of slide plates forming spaced bearings for said rails and each comprising a body portion extending transversely thereof, a wing portion extending longitudinally of said rails toward an adjacent spaced slide plate, and electric means embedded in said slide plates for supplying heat thereto.

3. A slide plat@J for track switches coinprising a bodyv portion adapted to form a rail bearing, a lateral wing portion, and an electrical resistance element embedded therein and adapted to heat said slide plate.y

4C. A slide plate for track switches comprising a body portion adapted to form a rail bearing, an integral wing portion having a depressed end section, and anelectrical resistance element embedded therein and adapted to heat said slide plate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand. Y

JASON PAIGE. 

